Selectively assembled freestanding stool and method of assembling the same

ABSTRACT

A selectively assembled freestanding stool for providing a user such as a baseball coaches on the field with a seat which can be assembled on demand using primarily materials already on the field, comprising a plurality of modified dowel members and an attachment apparatus which together allow a plurality of convention bats and one base to be assembled into a stool. The dowels are adapted with an engaging ring having an adjustable circumference so as to allow it each end to be slid over a bat and be securely lock into place near the middle of the bat. The attachment apparatus is configured with a plurality of receiving depressions sized to receive and securely hold the base of a bat. The base portion of the bats are attached to the attachment apparatus and the base is the secured to the top of the attachment apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to freestanding seating and, more particularly, to stool apparatus which can be selectively assembled to provide a comfortable freestanding seat.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Freestanding stools are well known. While typically lacking the seat back structure found in most chairs, stools typically still provide a study seat often at a height which is higher than most chairs. It is common for stools to be a fixed assembly which includes a seating platform disposed on top of a plurality of legs. Such a fixed assembly is not particularly portable and thus is usually designated for and kept in a general area by its user. For example, it is common to see bar stools which are designated for and kept around a user's bar, or patio stools designated for and kept around a user's patio, or even kitchen stools designated for and kept around a user's kitchen. Stools offer advantages such as a higher seating surface and the ability to face in any direction, which are desirable in many instances. One such instance wherein a stool is desirable is for coaches in a baseball/softball environment. Because of their fixed assembly nature, however, many coaches find it difficult to carry stools around.

Seemingly, one solution to the portability difficulties posed by the fixed assembly nature of stools would be conventional portable seating structures, which are also well known. Such structures typically include foldable chairs defined as having a substantially flat profile in one configuration and the ability to be deployed into a more traditional chair configuration with no added parts or substantial assembly required.

A problem which still exists, however, is that while portable seating structures can be very handy for providing an on demand, user deployable seat in desired locations, such a structure still requires a user to carry around the entire portable seating structure as a dedicated part typically unrelated to whatever the user is doing. In other words, the user must still carry around the seat on the mere chance it may be needed until it is needed regardless of what the user is actually doing or when the user may actually need it. Even if the portable seating structure remains in its flat profile configuration until deployed, it still may be inconvenient to have to carry it around extraneously.

Moreover, portable seating structures typically do not provide an elevated seating surface or a seating surface which allows the user to face in any direction which, as stated above, are often desired by users such as baseball (or softball) coaches. Thus, there remains a need for a stool apparatus which can be deployed on demand by a user such as a baseball coach. It would be helpful for such an apparatus to require minimal extra dedicated parts to have to carry around. It would be additionally desirable for such an apparatus to be able to be quickly and securely assembled without the need for tools.

The Applicant's invention described herein provides for a selectively assembled freestanding stool apparatus for use by baseball coaches while coaching on the field. The primary components of Applicant's selectively assembled freestanding stool are a plurality of dowels and an attachment apparatus, as well as a plurality of conventional bats and one base. When in operation, the selectively assembled freestanding stool allows a coach to take a few of his existing materials and combine them with specially configured dowels and an attachment apparatus to create a stool in a negligible amount of time and without any tools. As a result, many of the limitations imposed by varying structures of existing stools or portable chairs are removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A selectively assembled freestanding stool for providing a user such as a baseball coaches on the field with a seat which can be assembled on demand using primarily materials which the coach would already have on the field. The selectively assembled freestanding stool comprises a plurality of modified dowel members and an attachment apparatus which together allow a plurality of convention bats and one base (referring simply to one of the bases customarily used on a baseball field—i.e. first base, second base and third base) to be assembled into a stool. In this manner, by simply carrying around a few dowel members and an attachment apparatus, a baseball coach can assemble a stool out on the field whenever the coach desires.

The selectively assembled freestanding stool is assembled by first gathering the dowel members, the attachment apparatus, four bats, and a base. The dowels are adapted with an engaging ring at each end having an adjustable circumference so as to allow it each end to be slid over a bat and be securely lock into place near the middle of the bat. In this manner the four dowels, each connecting to one bat at each end, connect the four bats (each of which have two dowels connected thereto) into a foundation structure for the selectively assembled freestanding stool. The attachment apparatus is configured with four receiving depressions sized to receive and securely hold the base portion of a bat (or handle portion). Four are provided so that a selectively assembled freestanding stool can be assembled with four bats (as legs). When the base portion of the bats are attached to the attachment apparatus, the bats are automatically placed into a configuration which ensures the bats will be properly balanced under the attachment apparatus and subsequently the base based on the orientation of the varying receiving depressions. The base is the placed on top of the attachment apparatus and secured thereto by way of a hook and loop fastening system of the attachment apparatus, which is disposed on the attachment apparatus for attaching the base thereto. The attachment apparatus is sized to fit the inlay for a standard baseball base.

It is an object of this invention to provide a stool apparatus which can be deployed by a user such as a baseball coach on demand.

It is another object of this invention to provide an apparatus which requires minimal extra dedicated parts to have to carry around for assembly.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide an apparatus which is able to be quickly and securely assembled without the need for tools.

These and other objects will be apparent to one of skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a selectively assembled freestanding stool built in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a modified dowel member built in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of an attachment apparatus built in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side cross sectional view of an attachment apparatus built in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of a selectively assembled freestanding stool built in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side cross sectional view of an attachment apparatus built in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings and in particular FIG. 1, a selectively assembled freestanding stool 10 built in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown comprising four modified dowel members 11, a base 12, four baseball bats 13, and an attachment apparatus disposed underneath the base 12 assembled together into a stool. The base 12, which forms a seat support means for a user to sit, is held in place by a strap 14 which utilizes a hook and loop fastening system of the attachment apparatus.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the modified dowel member 11 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown comprising an elongated member 15 having two adjustable engaging rings 16, each having an adjustable circumference, which are each adapted to receive a baseball bat and securely engage a central portion thereof. In the preferred embodiment, the engaging rings 16 are constructed of a semi rigid material and include additional length 17 which can be utilized to increase the circumference by way of resetting a hook and loop fastening system of the modified dowel members 11. In the same manner, the circumference of the engaging rings 16 can be decreased by adding to the additional length 17 through resetting the hook and loop fastening system of the modified dowel members 11. In this manner, each modified dowel member 11 provides a means for attaching bats.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the attachment apparatus 18 is shown comprising a rectangular body 19 having four receiving depressions 20 disposed on its bottom surface. When a four leg stool is desired, four bats are inserted into the four associated receiving depressions 20 and the depressions 20 cause the bats to be automatically placed into a configuration which ensures the bats will be properly balanced under the attachment apparatus 18 and a base subsequently mounted thereon. In this manner, the attachment apparatus 18 provides a structure means for combining bat legs and base seating.

The hook and loop fastening system of the attachment apparatus is defined by the strap 14 having two portions which are disposed on opposing sides of the attachment apparatus 18. The two portions of the strap 14 are sized be placed over a base sitting on top of the attachment apparatus 18 from their respective side, where they would meet, overlap, and engage over the top of the base to securely but removably fasten the base to the attachment apparatus 18.

In the preferred embodiment, the rectangular body 19 measures ¾ inch thick and 12 inches long and wide. Such dimensions allow it to fit the inlay of a standard baseball base when the base is place on top of the attachment apparatus 18.

Assembly of the selectively assembled freestanding stool 10 is accomplished by first providing the dowel members 11, the attachment apparatus 18, four bats 13, and a base 12. The engaging rings 16 of the dowel members 11 are then placed over the bats 13 with each engaging ring 16 engaging one bat 13 in a manner which results in each dowel member 11 (having two engaging rings 16) being connected to two bats 13, each bat 13 having two engaging rings 16 disposed thereon, and all four bats 13 are connected in as a contiguous loop with one dowel member 11 is disposed between two bats 13. Each engaging ring 16 is then tightened to securely hold the central portion of the bat 13 it engages.

Next, the attachment apparatus 18 is placed on the ground such that its receiving depressions 20 face up. The base portion of each interconnected bat 13 is then inserted into on receiving depression 20. The attachment apparatus is then turned over and so that the tips of the four bats 13 now touch the ground. The base 12 is then placed on top of the attachment apparatus 18 and the strap 14 locks it in place.

Referring now to FIG. 5, an alternate embodiment of a selectively assembled freestanding stool 10 is shown comprising four dowel members 31 permanently engaged with four baseball bats 32 with a base 33 placed on top. Each of the dowel members 31 engages two bats in a receiving slot and each of the four bats 32 permanently engages a receiving depression on the bottom side of the base 33. The structure measures 20 inches tall and is constructed of cabinet grade birch plywood.

Referring now to FIG. 6, an alternate embodiment of an attachment apparatus 40 built in accordance with the present invention is shown comprising a rectangular body 41 and a strap 42. As with the preferred embodiment, alternate attachment apparatus includes four receiving depressions 43 disposed on its bottom surface for receiving bats, utilizes a strap 42 with a hook and loop fastening system and is sized to fit in the inlay under a standard baseball base. Thus, it also provides a structure means for combining bat legs and base seating. The alternate attachment apparatus 40, however, additionally includes an aperture 44 in the middle of the rectangular body 41 which is sized to receive a base post which are well known to extend downward from the bottom some baseball base structures. In this alternate attachment apparatus 40, the aperture 44 allows the post to pass through the rectangular body so that the bottom of the base can still be placed directly on top of and in contact the attachment apparatus 40 despite having a base post which would prevent such contact if the attachment apparatus 18 of the preferred embodiment were used.

The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A selectively assembled freestanding stool comprising: at least four baseball bats configured with a base portion at a proximal end, a tip at a distal end, and a central portion disposed between said proximal and distal ends; a baseball base; a plurality of modified dowel members, each comprising an elongated rod having a first end and a second end disposed at opposing sides of the elongated rod, wherein each dowel member is adapted to engage and removably attach to the central portion of the baseball bats at its first end and its second end; an attachment apparatus having at least four receiving depressions sized to engage and removably attach to the base portion of one baseball bat and adapted to removably attach to the baseball base; and wherein said each of said dowel members are attached to one baseball bat at its first end and one baseball bat at its second end such that the dowel members and bats form a contiguous loop, the base portion of said baseball bats are attached to the receiving depressions of said attachment apparatus, and the baseball base is attached to the attachment apparatus on the side opposite of the receiving depressions.
 2. The selectively assembled freestanding stool of claim 1, wherein: four baseball bats are included; and the attachment apparatus includes four receiving depressions.
 3. The selectively assembled freestanding stool of claim 1, wherein: four baseball bats are included; and the attachment apparatus includes four receiving depressions.
 4. The selectively assembled freestanding stool of claim 1, wherein the attachment apparatus includes an aperture disposed substantially in its center.
 5. The selectively assembled freestanding stool of claim 1, wherein adjustable engagement rings define the first end and the second end of each dowel member.
 6. A freestanding stool comprising: four baseball bats configured with a base portion at a proximal end, a tip at a distal end, and a central portion disposed between said proximal and distal ends; a baseball base; four dowel members, each comprising an elongated rod having a first end and a second end and each permanently attached to one baseball bat at each end in contiguous loop fashion; and wherein said baseball base is attached to the base portion of each bat.
 7. A method for assembling a selectively assembled freestanding stool comprising the steps of: providing at least four baseball bats configured with a base portion at a proximal end, a tip at a distal end, and a central portion disposed between said proximal and distal ends; providing a baseball base; providing a plurality of modified dowel members, each comprising an elongated rod having a first end and a second end disposed at opposing sides of the elongated rod, wherein each dowel member is adapted to engage and removably attach to the central portion of the baseball bats at its first end and its second end; providing an attachment apparatus having at least four receiving depressions sized to engage and removably attach to the base portion of one baseball bat and adapted to removably attach to the baseball base; attaching each of said dowel members to one baseball bat at its first end and one baseball bat at its second end such that the dowel members and bats form a contiguous loop; attaching the base portion of said baseball bats to the receiving depressions of said attachment apparatus; and attaching the baseball base to the attachment apparatus on the side opposite of the receiving depressions.
 8. The method for assembling a selectively assembled freestanding stool of claim 7, wherein: four baseball bats are included; and the attachment apparatus includes four receiving depressions.
 9. The method for assembling a selectively assembled freestanding stool of claim 7, wherein the attachment apparatus includes an aperture disposed substantially in its center.
 10. The method for assembling a selectively assembled freestanding stool of claim 7, wherein adjustable engagement rings define the first end and the second end of each dowel member. 